Device for making ornamental designs

ABSTRACT

A device for making an ornamental design such as a Chinese frog from cording including a base with upstanding fingers. The fingers are spaced from the center of the flat upper face of the base and include extending lips at their terminal ends. Pin-holes are located between the fingers and the center of the base. The base may have multiple apertures and the fingers may be removably inserted therein.

United States @ateni Sanders Aug. 28, 1973 [54] DEVICE FOR MAKING ORNAMENTAL 3,286,888 11/1966 Cuttler 223/46 DESIGNS 2,799,956 7/1957 Ciroli 233/46 x 2,825,169 3/1958 Ciroli 223/46 X [76] In or: M d an 304 Melrose Du. 2,860,399 ll/l958 Bates 223/46 x Jackson, Miss. 3921 l Prima Examiner-Geo. V. Larkin 22 Fl d: 1 20, 1972 l 1 l c J y Attorney-John E. Beno1t [21] Appl. No.: 273,365

[57] ABSTRACT [52] U.S. C1. 223/46 A device f r m king n ornam ntal esign uch as a [51] Int. Cl A4111 43/00 n s g fr r ng in d ng a as ith up- [58] Field of Search 161/9, 10; 223/46; n g fing r Th fing r re p d fr m the nter 28/15 of the flat upper face of the base and include extending lips at their terminal ends. Pin-holes are located be- [56] References Cited tween the fingers and the center of the base. The base UNITED STATES PATENTS may have multiple apertures and the fingers may be re- 3,044,670 7/1962 Barefoot 223/46 movably msened 1,612,268 l2/l926 Dickson 161/10 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 28, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented Aug. 28 1973 I I 3,754,692

2 Sheets-Sheet Z DEVICE FOR MAKING ORNAMENTAL DESIGNS This invention relates broadly to a device for making an article of apparel and, more specifically, to such a device which may be used with cording or the like for making functional designs to be used with wearing apparel.

I am aware of various devices which have been used generally for making ornamental designs. A few such devices are shown in U. S. Pats. Nos. l,6l2,268; 2,799,956; 2,825,169 and 2,860,399. These devices are designed for use with specific materials such as textile covered wire, yarn of the weaving type, thread, etc. Most of these devices use pins or posts and form ornamental designs. None of the above devices are suitable for making functional designs such as illustrated by the design commonly known as a Chinese frog which is made from cording or self-fabric tubing, or to make designs of differing sizes.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a device which may be used to make designs from cording or self-fabric tubing.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device for simplifying the hand-making of ornamental devices.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device which assures the uniformity of such ornamental devices.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a device which allows the hand-making of ornamental devices of different sizes and configurations.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of the method of using the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modification of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a finger to be used with the device of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is an exploded view illustrating the relationship of the devices of FIGS. 4 and 5.

Broadly speaking, the present invention provides a device for making both ornamental and functional designs comprising a rigid base with a substantially flat upper face. A plurality of fingers having a semi-ovate horizontal cross-section are spaced from the center of the base and extend upwardly from said face. Each of the fingers has a lip at its terminal end. A series of pinholes are provided in the flat face between the fingers and the center of the base.

While the present invention may be used for various designs, the following illustrative description is restricted to the making of a Chinese frog. Additionally, in order to simplify the description, the material used will be referred to as cording. It is to be understood that this term includes self-fabric tubing and any material of a similar size and nature.

The forming of a Chinese frog by hand is both difficult and time consuming. Further, the end result is usually not properly sized and shaped. The device as described hereinafter enables the user to produce a Chinese frog which is of the proper size and shape with a minimum of effort.

Turning now more specifically to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a rigid base 13 with a plurality of fingers 15, 17, I9 and 23 extending upwardly therefrom. Each of the fingers includes a lip 23 extending outwardly from the upper terminal end thereof.

The base further includes a series of pinholes 25, 27, 29 and 31 which are located between the fingers and the center of the board. In the particular illustration of FIG. 1, the fingers and the pinholes are equally spaced from the center of the base and are located ninety degrees from each other. i

This device may be solid or, as illustrated in FIG. 2,

formed as a unitary hollow article. The device may be made in any fashion such as molding from any rigid material such as plastic.

FIG. 3 illustrates the method of using the device of FIG. 1. Cording 32 is placed so as to form a starting point 33. The first loop is formed clockwise as indicated by the arrows about finger l7 and under the original starting point 33. A pin 35 is then inserted through the cording into mating pinhole 25 so as to hold the first loop in place. The cording is then wrapped around fingers 19, 21 and 15 as indicated by the arrows with pins 37, 39 and 41 being inserted as the looping operation occurs. As can be seen from FIG. 3, each of the fingers has a semi-ovate horizontal cross section. This term is used since the fingers resemble a horizontal cross section through the length of an egg with both ends of the egg removed. The excess is trimmed so that the two ends meet at point 33 and the device is hand stitched while it is still on the device. When the device is removed, that side showing in FIG. 3 will be the underside of the Chinese frog.

FIGS. 4-6 illustrate a modification of the device of FIG. 1. A solid base is provided with apertures 45 and i 47 together with additional pinholes 49 and 51. As

shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 a finger 53 having a lip 55 includes a peg 57 extending downwardly therefrom. The peg 57 is of a dimension so as to mate with the h oles 45 and 47 of holes 43. While the peg may be designed so as to fit snugly withinthe apertures, it is preferable to make the apertures and peg with a non-circular cross-section, such as square, so that the finger will not turn in the aperture.

As may be seen, the structure of FIGS. 4-6 provides a means whereby Chinese frogs of various sizes may be made using the same base and four removable fingers. The number of apertures and pinholes is only limited by the size of the base. The only requirement as to spacing is that enough space must be left in the center of the base to allow for the hand stitching.

The lip is needed at the upper end of the fingers in order to prevent the cording from slipping off the finger while the design is being formed. The semi-ovate shape with the broader end towards the center of the base provides the proper form for the frog.

It will be seen that the present invention provides a device which is'not only ornamental but is also functional in that it can be used as a closure, such as a buttonhole for garments.

It is to be understood that the above disclosure and drawings are illustrative only. The number of fingers and pinholes as well as the location may be varied. Accordingly, the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the following claims.

equally spaced away from and about said center of said base.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein four fingers are spaced circumferentially at ninety degree intervals about said center of said base.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said fingers comprise downwardly extending pegs, and

said board is provided with apertures for mating with said pegs.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said pegs and said apertures are of a non-circular cross-sectional area. 

1. A device for making a Chinese frog ornamental design from cording comprising a rigid base having a substantially flat upper face, a plurality of fingers extending upwardly from said face and spaced away from the center of said base, said fingers having a semi-ovate horizontal cross-sectional area, a lip extending outwardly from the terminal end of said fingers, and a plurality of pinholes in said face between said fingers and said center of said base.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said fingers are equally spaced away from and about said center of said base.
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein four fingers are spaced circumferentially at ninety degree intervals about said center of said base.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein said fingers comprise downwardly extending pegs, and said board is provided with apertures for mating with said pegs.
 5. The device of claim 4 wherein said pegs and said apertures are of a non-circular cross-sectional area. 